Red Molly was formed late one night at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Abbie, Carolann, and Laurie, solo singer/songwriters, were the last ones left at a song circle. They liked the way they sounded together and decided to form a band. The name Red Molly is taken from a character in the Richard Thompson song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning."
On June 15, 2010 Red Molly announced that Carolann Solebello would be leaving the group and replaced by Molly Venter. On July 24 Solebello announced to the crowd at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival it was her last show with the band and concluded: "I know about 75% of you by face, and I wanted my last show to be with my friends here at Falcon Ridge, not at some small club in some country I didn't know anybody." Solebello continues to perform as a solo artist and released her third solo album "Threshold", in June 2011.
Molly Venter's debut with the trio was on August 6, 2010 at the Lunenburg Folk Festival.
Their career started to take off in 2006. They were the top vote getters in the 2006 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase. WUMB in Boston named them Top New Artist of the Year and picked their Album Never Been to Vegas one of their Top 10 Albums of 2006. They appeared in John Platt's Under the Radar series in New York a showcase for up and coming musicians.
In 2007 they toured with Pat Wictor and Ellis, the other winners of the Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist showcase, on the Falcon Ridge Preview tour and performed with them in the Most Wanted Song Swap at the Festival itself.
In 2010 they have played Merlefest and have been invited back to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival as a headliner.
Their album "Love and Other Tragedies" reached number 15 on the Americana Charts on June 30, 2008.
Their next album "James" reached #4 on the Americana charts in May of 2010 and # 1 on the Folk DJ chart.
The recording, "The Red Album", the group's second since the departure of founding member Carolann Solebello, is their freshest and edgiest to date. After immersing themselves in songwriting, the Mollies made a conscious decision to record more original songs than on any previous album, making their choice of specific covers all the more significant. With their arsenal of new songs and select favorites at hand (including a very long-awaited cover of the song that is their namesake) "1952 Vincent Black Lightning", the band traveled to Nashville to work with producer Ken Coomer (drummer for Uncle Tupelo and Wilco), and the result is a darkly percussive, wildly cool, and powerfully different collection of songs than you'd expect from a ladylike folk trio.
"The Red Album", realized on May 27, 2014, was featured in USA Today and CMT Edge. It spent 16 weeks on the Americana Radio Top 40 chart, reaching #10, and it was #1 on the Folk DJ Radio Chart for all of 2014.
A 6-song EP, "One for All & All for One," was released in 2018.
Why Should I Cry
Red Molly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
YOU TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BEING LONESOME
AND I LEARNED MY LESSONS OH SO FAITHFULLY
WHAT WAS I THINKING OF WHEN I GAVE YOU MY LOVE
FOR I KNEW YOU WOULD GO EVENTUALLY
YOU CAN'T SAY HE NEVER GAVE YOU NOTHING
AFTER ALL HE LEFT YOU WITH THE BLUES
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I WILL EVER LOSE
TELL ME WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU SWEET DARLING
WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON I SHOULD BE WITH YOU (not sure last two words)
WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
BREAK
I'M ALL THROUGH FEELING BLUE FOR YOU MY DARLING
I KNOW YOU WOULD DO THE SAME FOR ME
YOU'RE GONNA WALK RIGHT OUT THE DOOR
GONNA EVEN UP THE SCORE
OH TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME SO EASILY
I DON'T EXPECT YOU WILL EVER COME A'CALLING
BUT SHOULD WE CHANCE TO ME OUT ON THE AVENUE
DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU DON'T SEE TEARDROPS FALLING
HONEY WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
TELL ME WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU SWEET DARLING
WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON I SHOULD BE WITH YOU
WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
WON'T YA GIVE ME ONE MORE REASON I SHOULD BE WITH YOU
WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
The song "Why Should I Cry" by Red Molly is a classic break-up song about an individual who has been left behind by a partner. The singer acknowledges that the partner has taught them a lot about loneliness and they've learned their lessons quite well. Despite having had this person for a period in their life, the singer knew that they would eventually leave. The partner, who has caused the singer so much heartache, at least left them with the blues, which the singer acknowledges isn't much, but it's something.
The singer goes on to ask why they should cry over this person who has left them, what reason do they have to be with them? They've reached a point where they are done being sad for this person, and they know that the partner would do the same for them if the roles were reversed. They say that two can play the game of leaving so easily, and they don't expect the partner to come back into their life, but if they were to come across each other again, the partner shouldn't be surprised when they see no tears falling.
The song is a powerful testament to how individuals can move beyond heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. It acknowledges the negative emotions felt after a partner leaves but shows that life can move on and people can find happiness beyond a failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
YOU TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BEING LONESOME
You were the reason for my loneliness, and now I know everything there is to know about being alone.
AND I LEARNED MY LESSONS OH SO FAITHFULLY
I learned my lessons about heartbreak very well, and I will not make the same mistake again.
WHAT WAS I THINKING OF WHEN I GAVE YOU MY LOVE FOR I KNEW YOU WOULD GO EVENTUALLY
I knew that you would eventually leave me, yet I still gave you my heart. What was I thinking?
YOU CAN'T SAY HE NEVER GAVE YOU NOTHING AFTER ALL HE LEFT YOU WITH THE BLUES
You may think he didn't give you anything, but he left you with the blues - a constant reminder of the pain he caused.
IT AIN'T MUCH BUT AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I WILL EVER LOSE
The blues may not be much, but at least it's something tangible that I can hold on to, and I don't think I will ever forget the hurt.
TELL ME WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU SWEET DARLING WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
Why should I shed tears over someone who was never worth it in the first place?
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON I SHOULD BE WITH YOU (not sure last two words) WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
If you can give me one good reason to be with you, then maybe I'll consider crying over you. But until then, I have no reason to shed tears over someone who never deserved my love.
I'M ALL THROUGH FEELING BLUE FOR YOU MY DARLING I KNOW YOU WOULD DO THE SAME FOR ME
I am done feeling sad and heartbroken because of you, my former lover. And I know that if the roles were reversed, you would feel the same about me.
YOU'RE GONNA WALK RIGHT OUT THE DOOR GONNA EVEN UP THE SCORE OH TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME SO EASILY
I know you're going to leave me, and that's okay. We can both play this game of heartbreak, so easily.
I DON'T EXPECT YOU WILL EVER COME A'CALLING BUT SHOULD WE CHANCE TO ME OUT ON THE AVENUE
I don't expect you to ever come back to me, but if we happen to cross paths again, I will not let you see me sad and heartbroken.
DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU DON'T SEE TEARDROPS FALLING HONEY WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
Don't be surprised if you see me happy and not shedding any tears over you. I have moved on and realized that you were never worth my tears.
WON'T YA GIVE ME ONE MORE REASON I SHOULD BE WITH YOU WHY SHOULD I CRY OVER YOU
If you can convince me with one more reason to be with you, then maybe I'll consider crying over you. But until then, I am done shedding tears over someone who was never worth it.
Contributed by Lucas F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zee Man
Love these girls and love this song